Reinforcing

Abstract

A reinforcing is disclosed that comprising a reinforcing bar extending along a portion of the length of the reinforcing and a termination extending along an end portion of the reinforcing. The termination is disclosed as being permanently bonded to the reinforcing bar preferably by a friction welding process so as to form an integral connection. The termination has a body extending in a longitudinal direction between opposite first and second ends, and a lateral engagement face formed on the body. In use the first end is joined to an end the reinforcing bar, and the engagement face incorporates locking formations thereon arranged to interfit with a complementary shaped termination to form an interlock arranged to accommodate loading applied in the longitudinal direction.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A termination for a reinforcing bar for concrete reinforcing, the termination having:
 a body extending in a longitudinal direction between opposite first and second ends, the first end having a reference axis extending in the longitudinal direction and in use the first end is joined to an end of a reinforcing bar with the reference axis arranged to align with an axis of the reinforcing bar;
 a lateral engagement face formed on the body, the engagement face incorporates locking formations thereon arranged to interfit with a complementary shaped termination to form an interlock arranged to accommodate loading applied in the longitudinal direction comprising: 
 
 a plurality of spaced apart upstands extending transversely across the engagement face; and 
 a recess disposed adjacent one of the upstands; 
 each upstand has a side wall extending between a bridging portion of the upstand, and a base portion of an adjacent recess, the side wall including:
 a bearing surface disposed normal to the reference axis; 
 
 a first transition region formed above the bearing surface and forming the intersection between the bearing surface and the bridging portion; and
 a second transition region extending from the respective bearing surface to the base portion; 
 
 the side walls being configured so that the bearing surfaces of the upstands form the regions of contact in the interlock to accommodate loading applied in the longitudinal direction with no points of contact formed at the transition regions; and 
 the upstands being stepped downwardly along the engagement face towards the second end such that the respective bearing surfaces are at different spacings from the reference axis to distribute loading applied in the longitudinal direction across the reference axis. 
 
     
     
       2. The termination for concrete reinforcing according to  claim 1 , wherein the termination is formed as a metal casting. 
     
     
       3. The termination for reinforcing according to  claim 1 , wherein the termination is shaped to form part of a reinforcing coupling and arranged to form an interlock with a complementary termination of identical shape to said termination. 
     
     
       4. The termination for concrete reinforcing according to  claim 1 , wherein said termination is formed of steel. 
     
     
       5. The termination for concrete reinforcing according to  claim 1 , wherein a first said upstand extends in the longitudinal direction of the termination a distance greater than a second said upstand.